US3654745A - Method of and apparatus for packing articles - Google Patents

Method of and apparatus for packing articles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3654745A
US3654745A US813089A US3654745DA US3654745A US 3654745 A US3654745 A US 3654745A US 813089 A US813089 A US 813089A US 3654745D A US3654745D A US 3654745DA US 3654745 A US3654745 A US 3654745A
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Prior art keywords
blank
articles
assembly
successive
station
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US813089A
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English (en)
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Michael John Smith
William Charles Lane
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Reed Paper Group Ltd
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Reed Paper Group Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for packing collated assemblies of elongate articles of rectangular cross-section in tubular cartons, which involves folding first and second rectangular car.dboard blanks about the assembly so that the first blank forms three of the four side walls of the carton and the second blank defines the fourth side wall and end walls.
  • Each blank is provided with connecting flaps outside of its three wall-forming panels, the connecting flaps of the first blank being secured to the outside of the side wall provided by the second blank, and those of the second blank being tucked into the open ends of the carton when such ends are closed by the end walls.
  • the apparatus includes mechanisms for collating the articles into successive assemblies, delivering the assemblies and the respective blanks to a combining station, folding the blanks about the articles, and securing the connecting flaps to form a closed pack.
  • This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for packing an article or articles in a case or carton made from cardboard, corrugated board or similar light weight foldable sheet material (hereinafter termed material of the kind referred to).
  • a method of packing an article or an assembly of articles including folding first and second blanks of material of the kind referred to about said article or assembly of articles so that the first blank defines three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank defines the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case or carton, and further including folding connecting flaps formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls defined by said first blank to overlie said fourth wall and securing said flaps to said fourth wall.
  • the method according to the invention will further include folding connecting flaps formed as extensions of said end closure walls inwardly of said tubular case or carton and securing said end wall connecting flaps to the inside face of the center one of said three side walls defined by said first blank.
  • the said article or assembly of articles is first engaged with said first and second blanks at a combining station, the said article or assembly of articles and the said first blank being fed to said combining station from opposite sides thereof and the said second blank being fed to the said combining station from a third side thereof in a direction at right angles to the respective directions of feed of said article or assembly of articles and said first blank, the combination of said article or assembly of articles and said blanks then being moved away from said combining station in the same direction as the direction of feed of said second blank, the said folding of the blanks about the article or assembly of articles and the said folding and securing of the first blank connecting flaps being effected at said combining station and during the said movement of the combination away from the latter, and the inward folding of the end closure walls and the said folding and securing of the second blank connecting flaps being effected during a further movement of the combination at right angles to the direction of its movement out of the combining station.
  • the method includes the steps of engaging the said article or assembly of articles with the said first blank by depositing the article or assembly of articles on the central one of the said three side walls defined by such blank, and thereafter folding the said two outer walls thereof upwardly into positions to form the other two of said three side walls.
  • the said second blank may then be laid on top of the said article or assembly of articles subsequent to the depositing of the article or assembly of articles on the said first blank but before the upward folding of the said two outer walls of the first blank is completed.
  • the method may include the step of applying and securing cushioning pads to the inside faces of the said end closure walls before the said second blank is engaged with the article or assembly of articles.
  • Each of such pads may conveniently be made of a plurality of superimposed panels of corrugated board or other resilient material.
  • the method of the invention When the method of the invention is applied to the packing of an assembly of similar articles it may include the step of collating articles delivered singly on conveyor means to form such an assembly of articles.
  • the invention finds particular utility in the packing of elongate articles such as fluorescent light tubes which are awkward to pack by hand and in a preferred embodiment involves the collating of individual elongate articles, e.g. fluorescent tubes, into convenient assemblies or bundles and the formation of the case or carton about such assembly or bundle of articles.
  • Fluorescent light tubes each in a lightweight square-sectioned sleeve, can for example be collated in bundles of 25 in a rectangular array of five by five tubes and such bundle of tubes placed upon a central side wall defining panel of the first blank at the commencement of the packing operation.
  • first and second blanks are precut and scored to define the required fold lines.
  • the invention also extends to apparatus for automatically and repetitively packing articles or assemblies of articles by the method set forth above, such apparatus comprising a combining station, first means for feeding first blanks of material of the kind referred to one by one to said combining station,
  • second means for feeding articles or assemblies of articles to be packed one by one to said combining station for engagement one with each of said first blanks at such station, third means for engaging a second blank of material of the kind referred to with each successive article or assembly of articles, fourth means for folding said first and second blanks about each successive article or assembly of articles so that the first blank defines three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank defines the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case or carton, and fifth means for folding connecting flaps formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls defined by said first blank to overlie said fourth wall and for securing said flaps to said fourth wall.
  • the apparatus includes sixth means for folding connecting flaps formed as extensions of said end closure walls inwardly of said tubular case or carton and securing said end wall connecting flaps to the inside face of the center one of said three side walls defined by said first blank.
  • the said first means is operative to transfer said first blanks one by one to said combining station from a first blank storage station of the apparatus.
  • Such first means may then include sucker means operative to withdraw successive first blanks from the bottom of a stack at said first blank storage station in operation, and kicker means operative to displace each successive blank so withdrawn into engagement with friction roller means operative to feed the blank to said combining station.
  • the said second means is operative to engage each successive article or assembly of articles with its associated first blank at said combining station by depositing said article or assembly of articles on the central one of the said three side walls defined by the blank.
  • the said second means may then comprise carrier means mounted for driven up and down movement above said combining station, such carrier means having an upper position of adjustment for receiving each successive article or assembly of articles to be packed and a lower position of adjustment for depositing the same on its associated first blank.
  • the said carrier means comprises at least two shelves adapted to support each successive article or assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge re gions thereof, and including means operative to withdraw said shelves from under the article or assembly of articles when the carrier means is in its said lower position of adjustment so as to deposit the article or assembly of articles on its associated first blank.
  • the apparatus of the invention is adapted for packing assemblies of articles
  • the apparatus may include collating means arranged to receive articles fed singly thereto and to collate said articles into successive assemblies for packing, and assembly transfer means for transferring successive assemblies of articles to said second means.
  • said collating means comprises stationary support means adapted to receive successive single articles fed thereto whereby successive sub-assemblies of articles are built up on said stationary support means in operation, movable support means comprising a plurality of supports alignable in succession with said stationary support means for the transfer of successive sub-assemblies of articles from said stationary support means to successive ones of said movable supports so as to build up a plurality of sub-assembly layers of articles on said movable support means to constitute an assembly of articles, sub-assembly transfer means operative to transfer each successive sub-assembly of articles assembled on said stationary support means to a movable support aligned therewith, and indexing means operative to index said movable support means through one increment of its movement subsequent to the transfer of each successive sub-assembly of articles to one of the movable supports thereof, the said assembly transfer means being operative to transfer each successive assembly of articles assembled on said movable support means to said second means.
  • the movable supports of said movable support means are mounted for indexing movement around endless paths.
  • the said stationary support means comprises two shelves arranged to support each successive article by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof, and each of said movable supports comprises two shelves arranged to support a sub-assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions of the articles.
  • the said sub-assembly transfer means then preferably comprises pusher means mounted for movement between the shelves of said stationary support means, and said assembly transfer means comprises pusher means movable between the shelves of said movable supports.
  • the said third means is operative to lay said second blank on each successive article or assembly of articles whilst the latter is at said combining station.
  • said third means should be operative to lay said second blank on each successive article or assembly of articles subsequent to the depositing of the latter on the associated first blank.
  • the said third means is operative to transfer said second blanks one by one to said combining station from a second blank storage station of the apparatus.
  • Such third means may then include pusher means operative to displace successive second blanks from the bottom of a stack at said second blank storage station on to conveyor means in operation, said conveyor means being intermittently operative to carry each successive blank so displaced into said combining station.
  • the apparatus includes means operative to apply and secure a cushioning pad to the inside face of each end closure wall of each of said second blanks before its engagement with an associated article or assembly of articles.
  • the said cushioning pad applying and securing means may then include pusher means operative to displace successive pairs of cushioning pads from the bottoms of two stacks of such pads on to said second blank conveyor means in operation, the drives to said pad pusher means and said second blank pusher means being linked so that each successive blank is laid on a pair of pads already laid on said conveyor means, adhesive applying means operative to apply adhesive to the upper face of each pad before the associated blank is laid thereon, and pressing means operative to press the end closure walls of each successive blank down on its associated pads to bond the same together before the blank is fed to the combining station.
  • the said fourth means is situated at said combining station and comprises respective folding elements mounted for driven up and down pivotal movement one on each side of the position to be occupied by the central one of the said three side walls of each successive first blank at said station, so as when driven upwardly to be operative to fold up the outer ones of the three side walls of each successive blank about the opposite sides of an associated article or assembly of articles.
  • said third means when the said third means is operative to lay the said second blank on each successive article or assembly of articles subsequent to the depositing of the latter on its associated first blank, means are preferably provided which operate automatically to interrupt the upward movement of said folding elements whilst the said second blank is being laid on each successive article or assembly of articles.
  • the said fifth means may conveniently include stationarily mounted folding means at a connecting flap folding station situated adjacent said combining station, and conveyor means operative to carry each successive combination of an article or assembly of articles and its two associated blanks through said folding station.
  • One part of said conveyor means may then be arranged to support each successive first blank whilst it is at said combining station.
  • the said fifth means further includes adhesive applying means arranged between said combining station and said connecting flap folding station and operative to apply adhesive to the faces of the said connecting flaps of each successive first blank before it enters such folding station, and the folding means at said folding station comprises two series of rollers operative to fold the respective connecting flaps of each successive first blank inwardly on to the side wall formed by the associated second blank as each said successive combination is carried through said folding station.
  • the said fifth means may then additionally include a compressing station situated immediately downstream of said connecting flap folding station, the said conveyor means being arranged to carry each said successive combination through such compression station, and the mechanism at said compression station being operative to press the respective connecting flaps of the first blank of each successive combination down on to the said fourth wall formed by the associated second blank whilst the said combination is moving through said compression station.
  • the said sixth means may conveniently include stationarily mounted folding means at a final folding station situated adjacent the downstream end of said conveyor means, and further conveyor means extending at right angles to the first-mentioned conveyor means and arranged to receive each said successive combination from said first-mentioned conveyor and to carry the same through said final folding station.
  • the said folding means at said final folding station comprises curved folding bars arranged at each side of said further conveyor means.
  • the said sixth means may further include adhesive applying means operative to apply adhesive to the respective connecting flaps of the second blank of each said successive combination before the engagement of said flaps with the said center one of the three side walls defined by the associated first blank.
  • the packing apparatus according to the invention be designed to operate with precut and scored first and second blanks; if desired, however, the apparatus could include means for cutting and scoring the blanks.
  • FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the successive steps involved in a preferred packing method according to the invention as embodied in the preferred apparatus to be described;
  • FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are successive parts of a plan view of the whole apparatus, the Figures being intended to be read from left to right in the order mentioned and being broken at the chain-dotted lines;
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line IIIIII of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line IVIV of FIG. 28;
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are the two parts of a vertical cross-section on the line VA--VA, VBVB of FIG. 28, these two Figures being intended to be read from left to right in the order mentioned and being divided at the chain-dotted line;
  • FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIVI of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIIVII of FIG.
  • FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2C.
  • FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section on the line IX-IX of FIG. 2C.
  • the method and apparatus to be described are particularly adapted for the packing of sleeved fluorescent light tubes in assemblies of 25 tubes arranged in five layers of five tubes each.
  • this preferred application utilises precut and scored first and second blanks of corrugated board, namely a case body blank and a case lid blank.
  • the case body blank 1, of which a stack is shown at 3 is of rectangular shape divided by fold lines parallel to its length into three side wall forming panels, namely a centre panel 4 of substantially the same width as the case lid and blank and outer panels 5 and 6 hingedly connected one to each side of the centre panel and of substantially the same width as the centre panel, and two outermost flaps 7 and 8 hingedly connected to the outer side wall forming panels 5 and 6, which flaps 7 and 8 serve as connecting flaps.
  • the second or case lid blank 2 of which a stack is shown at 9, is of rectangular shape and of a width equal to the width of one of said side wall forming panels of the case body blank 1. It is divided by fold lines extending transversely to its length into five panels, namely a center panel 10 constituting a lid or fourth wall of the assembled tubular case, two outer end closure wall forming panels 11 and 12 and two outermost connecting flaps 13 and 14.
  • Preformed end cushioning pads 15, of which two stacks are shown at 16 and 17, are also utilised, each comprises several panels of corrugated board stuck together and is of asize in plan slightly smaller than the end closure panels 11 and 12 of the case lid blank 2.
  • Sleeved fluorescent tubes 18 are fed to collating means in the apparatus and are formed into assemblies of 25 in a five by five array as shown at 19.
  • the subsequent sequence of events is as follows; a case body blank 1 is drawn from the bottom of the stack 8 by suitable with-drawing means and fed to a combining station (generally indicated at 20) at which an assembly 19 of 25 sleeved tubes is placed on the center panel 4 of the case body blank 1, the width of the panel 4 corresponding to the width of the tube assembly 19 and the length thereof being slightly greater than the length of the tube assembly to accommodate within the tubular body of the formed case the aforementioned cushioning pads 15.
  • the case lid blank 2 with the end pads secured thereto is then fed into the combining station 20 so as to be laid on the tube assembly 19 with the end pads facing downwardly.
  • the two outer side wall forming panels 5 and 6 of the case body blank 1 having been folded upwardly about the tube assembly, the connecting flaps 7 and 8 forming the lateral extremities of the case body blank are folded inwardly to overlie the case lid blank as the combination of the tube assembly and blanks is moved out of the combining station 20, and are adhesively secured to the top wall forming panel 10 of the case lid blank 2, compression being applied to ensure a good adhesive bond.
  • end closure panels 11 and 12 are then folded inwards during a further movement of the combination (indicated by arrows A) at right angles to its movement out of the combining station, and the connecting flaps 13 and 14 of the lid blank 2 are tucked into and adhesively secured to the tubular body, thereby securing the end closure walls 11 and 12 in their closed positions and thus completing the packing.
  • FIGS. 2A to 9 The construction and operation of the apparatus according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 9 will now be described.
  • the apparatus is of unitary construction and its various elements are supported by a rigid framework whose members are indicated throughout the drawings by the reference letter F.
  • this structure constitutes the third means" previously referred to, i.e. the means for engaging each successive second or lid blank 2 with each successive assembly of sleeved fluorescent light tubes to be packed.
  • Three sub-frames are mounted on the main framework F in this part of the apparatus, comprising an elongate sub-frame 21 arranged to receive and support a stack 9 of second or lid blanks 2 already referred to in connection with FIG. I, and two further and similar sub-frames 22 and 23 dimensioned and arranged to receive the stacks 16 and 17 of cushioning pads 15- also referred to above.
  • Each of the said sub-frames has vertical guide members 24 mounted therein which specifically define the spaces for the lid blanks and pads.
  • This part of the apparatus further includes conveyor means formed by two endless belts 25, for feeding successive lid blanks 2 to the combining station 20.
  • the belts 25 are toothed belts (as are all of the further driving and conveyor belts mentioned hereinafter) and are mounted between pairs of toothed wheels 26 and 27 at the respective ends of this part of the apparatus.
  • the toothed wheels 26 are mounted on a horizontal shaft 28 which is arranged to be driven intermittently by a motor 29 so as to drive the belts.
  • the lid blanks 2 and cushioning pads 15 are, during operation, fed from the bottoms of their respective stacks by means now to be described.
  • Such means comprises a motor 30 which drives a shaft 31 extending the whole length of this part of the apparatus, via a gearbox 32 and a belt drive 33.
  • Respective crank arms 34 (only one of which is visible in the drawings, in FIG. 3) are keyed to the ends of the shaft 31 so as to rotate therewith.
  • Each crank arm 34 has a pair of connecting rods 35 and 36 rotatably connected thereto.
  • each of the connecting rods 35 is rotatably connected to a lever 37 whose lower end is pivoted to the framework F via a link 38 and whose upper end is pivotally connected to a carriage 39 mounted for sliding movement on' shafts 40 extending transversely of the apparatus beneath the associated sub-frames 22 and 23 respectively.
  • Each carriage 39 carries a pusher 41 which is aligned to be engageable with the edge of the bottom one of the associated stack of cushioning pads 15 housed in the sub-frame 22 or 23.
  • the other connecting rod 36 at each end of this part of the apparatus is pivotally connected to a lever 42.
  • the lower ends of the levers 42 are 43 connected to the main framework F via links 43 whilst their upper ends are pivotally connected to respective carriages 44 slidably mounted on shafts 45 extending transversely of the apparatus beneath the respective end regions of the sub-frame 21.
  • the carriages 44 carry pushers 46 which are aligned to be engagable with the edge of the lowermost lid blank 2 in the stack 9.
  • This part of the apparatus further includes means for applying adhesive to each successive pair of cushioning pads 15 before the lid blank is laid on them, and for applying pressure to the bond between the pads and lid blank after they have been engaged together.
  • a pair of glue applicators 47 is provided at each end of this part of the apparatus, each of such applicators being of a conventional nature and being mounted for up and down movement to apply spots of adhesive to opposite edge regions of each cushioning pad between the time at which it is laid on the conveyor 25 and the time at which the associated lid blank is laid on it.
  • a pressure pad 48 operated by an air cylinder 49 is mounted between each pair of adhesive applicators 47 and is automatically operated to apply pressure to the end closure panels 11 and 12 of each successive lid blank after it has been laid on the glued cushioning pads.
  • Each of the conveyor belts 25 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite upstanding abutment members 50, such members being aligned in pairs as shown at the left hand end of FIG. 2A so as to be engageable behind the upstream end of each successive lid blank 2 when it is ready to be fed to the combining station.
  • the operation of the part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 is thus as follows.
  • the conveyor belts 25 being stationary, a pair of cushioning pads 15 are fed onto the belts in the manner already described.
  • the glue applicators 47 are automatically operated to apply spots of adhesive to the pads.
  • a lid blank 2 is then fed inwardly so as to be laid on the pads.
  • the pressure pads 48 are then operated to form a good adhesive bond.
  • the conveyor belts 25 are now started and the lid blank is fed into the combining station 20.
  • Microswitches (not shown) are arranged to sense the presence of each successive combination of a lid blank and cushioning pads and to transmit an appropriate signal to stop the apparatus should any hold-up occur in the continued assembly of such combinations in this part of the apparatus.
  • This part of the apparatus includes a sub-frame 51 mounted on the main framework F and dimensioned to receive a stack 3 of body blanks I referred to earlier in connection with FIG. 1.
  • the sub-frame 51 has six vertical guide plates 52 mounted therein so as specifically to define the space for the reception of the stack of body blanks, and each of such guide plates is turned inwardly at its lower end to support the stack.
  • suction cups 53 are mounted below the sub-frame 51 for vertical up and down movement, each suction cup being pivotally mounted on a lever 54 whose other end is pivotally connected to a part of the main framework F.
  • Power for driving the suction cups and up and down is taken from a motor 55 via a clutch 56 and gearbox 57, chain drive 58 and crank arms 59 connected to the levers 54.
  • the upper position of the suction cups is illustrated in ghost lines in FIG. B.
  • the first step in the delivery of a body blank from the stack 3 to the combining station 20 is thus the upward movement of the suction cups 53 to engage the lowest blank of the stack and draw it down over the intumed ends of the plates 52 to the position shown in ghost lines in FIG. 5B.
  • a kicker mechanism is provided for starting each successive body blank on its travel into the combining station 20.
  • the kicker mechanism comprises a pair of kickers 60 mounted on respective levers 61 pivotally mounted on the main frame.
  • a motor 62 drives the kickers via a gearbox 63, chain drive 64 and crank arms 65 connected to the levers 61, so that the kickers 60 are drivable between the retracted positions shown in full lines in FIG. 5B for the reception of a body blank 1 withdrawn from the stack, and the forward positions shown in ghost lines in that Figure.
  • the kicker mechanism is thus operative to engage the upstream edge of each successive body blank and, upon actuation, to move the blank to the left as seen in FIG. 5B.
  • the leading edge of the blank then engages in a nip formed between a pair of rollers 66 and associated spring strips 67.
  • the rollers 66 are driven in rotation to feed the blank the remaining distance into the combining station 20.
  • Drive to the rollers 66 is from a motor 68 via suitable transmission means generally indicated at 69 in FIG. 2B.
  • the forward movement of the kickers 60 is initiated automatically by the downward movement of the suction cups 53.
  • the collating mechanism of the apparatus is arranged to receive the fluorescent light tubes singly from an endless conveyor 70, of which only the downstream end portion is shown at the left hand side of FIG. 5A and the top of FIG. 2B, which conveyor leads the tubes from a previous packing step where they have already been inserted in square section protective sleeves.
  • the first part of the collating mechanism which receives the tubes as they arrive in the apparatus, comprises stationary support means in the form of a pair of horizontal open sided shelves 71 (see FIGS. 23 and 5A) arranged to support the sleeved tubes at opposite ends thereof.
  • a mechanism for transferring successive sub-assemblies of five tubes out of the shelves 71 and into the next part of the collating mechanism is arranged above the shelves (see FIG. 5A) is a mechanism for transferring successive sub-assemblies of five tubes out of the shelves 71 and into the next part of the collating mechanism.
  • the sub-assembly transfer mechanism comprises a pair of carriages 72 carrying pusher members 73 and mounted on respective pairs of chain drives 74 above and somewhat inwardly of the respective shelves 71.
  • Each of the carriages 72 is driven in a closed path by its mounting chains 73 so that when each pusher carriage is moving along the top run of its path its pusher member 73 is raised above the level of the shelves 71 as shown in FIG. 5A. Movement of the pusher carriage 72 to the left as seen in FIG. 5A and around the rear extremity of its path of movement will bring its pusher member 73 down into the plane of the shelves 71 and then forwardly along the lower run of its path to push a sub-assembly of five tubes out of the shelves 71 and into the next part of the collating mechanism.
  • the tubes As the tubes are delivered into the shelves 71 they pile up in a single row and are pushed along the shelves by further tubes arriving thereon until the most forward tube operates a microswitch (not shown) to actuate the sub-assembly pusher mechanism.
  • the next part of the collating mechanism after the pair of shelves 71, comprises movable support means arranged to receive successive sub-assemblies of five tubes from the shelves 71 and thus to make up successive assemblies of 25 tubes consisting of five layers of five tubes each.
  • the said movable support means comprises two sets of shelves 75 (see FIGS. 28, 5A and 6) mounted on respective sides of the path of the tubes as they exit from the shelves 71 and aligned with one another across the path of the tubes so that an aligned pair of shelves 75 (one from each set) can receive a sub-assembly of five tubes from the shelves 71 when the sub-assembly is pushed out of the latter shelves by the pusher members 73.
  • Each set of shelves 75 is mounted on a pair of chains 76 (see FIG. 6) for movement around a closed path.
  • Such path has an inner vertical run along which the shelves move in the downward direction and it is at the top of this part of their path of movement that the pairs of shelves 75 successively become aligned with the fixed shelves 71.
  • Indexing means are provided for intermittently moving the sets of shelves 75 through one increment of their movement around their closed paths when one pair of shelves (one from each set) has received a sub-assembly of five tubes from the shelves 71.
  • Such indexing means comprises a disc 77 (see FIG. 4) carrying a plurality of cam followers 78 which are acted upon by rotary cam means 79 (see FIGS.
  • the drive to these mechanisms is from a motor 81 via a gearbox 82 and thence via a belt drive 83 to a shaft 84 from which drive is transmitted to the sub-assembly pushers 73 and, via a toothed wheel 85, to the shaft 80 mentioned above.
  • the operation of the sub-assembly transfer means is controlled by a microswitch actuated by the presence of five tubes in the shelves 71.
  • the pusher members 73 move along the lower run of their path of movement to push five tubes into an aligned pair of shelves 75, and during this part of the movement a plane portion of the rotary cam means 79 slides past one of the cam followers 78.
  • the curved surfaces of the cam means 79 move past the cam follower 78 to rotate the disc 77 and thus to index the sets of shelves 75 downwardly through one increment so as to align the next pair of shelves with the shelves 71.
  • the next part of the apparatus, for delivering the tube assemblies to the combining station 20, comprises carrier means in the form of two sets of shelves 86 (see FIGS. A and 7) which constitute the second means previously referred to.
  • Each set of shelves 86 comprises five shelves mounted on'a carriage 87 (see also FIG. 4) which is movable up and down on a pair of shafts 88, between an upper position (see FIGS. 5A and 7) in which each set of five shelves 86 is aligned with five of the shelves 75, and a lower position) shown in ghost lines in FIG. 4) in which an assembly of 25 tubes to be received on the shelves 86 is aligned to be deposited on the central wall panel 4 of a body blank 1 at the combining station 20.
  • the shelves 86 are arranged to receive five sub-assembly layers of tubes, supporting the tubes at their ends in the same manner as they are supported by the movable shelves 75.
  • the assembly transfer means comprises a pair of pushers 91 (see FIGS. 28 and 5A) slidable on shafts 92 between the sets of movable shelves 75.
  • the pushers 91 are driven from a motor 93 via gearbox 94, chain drive 95 and pivotally mounted levers 96 connected to the pushers by connecting rods 97.
  • the mechanism for retracting one set of shelves (the other being similar) is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises a cruciform mechanism 105 interconnecting a fixed part 106 and movable part 107 of the carriage 87 so that contraction of the cruciform mechanism withdraws the set of shelves 86 to the left as seen in FIG. 7, thus releasing the tubes and depositing them on a body blank.
  • the sets of carrier shelves 86 have normal rest positions in which they are extended for engagement with the layers of tubes, being urged outwardly into such rest positions'by compression springs 108. Withdrawal of the shelves to their tube-releasing positions is effected by pneumatic cylinders 109 whose piston rods 110 are connected to the respective movable elements 107 of the carriages 87 (see FIG. 7).
  • conveyor means comprising a pair of endless belts 111 extending wholly across the combining station as seen in FIG. 2B and providing underneath support for each successive combination of an assembly of 25 tubes and their associated body and lid blanks whilst the walls 5 and 6 of the body blank are being folded about the tube assembly.
  • the first step in each cycle of operation at the combining station consists of the delivery of a body blank 1 to the station from the body blank feeding means already described.
  • Each blank having been fed through the nip between rollers 66 and spring strips 67 already mentioned, is arrested by a stop 112 (FIG. 5A) which is linked to a microswitch to detect the presence of a body blank at the combining station and to transmit an appropriate signal to the drive for the carrier shelves 86, which will not be lowered unless a body blank is present.
  • a microswitch 113 mounted alongside the path of movement of one of the carrier shelf carriages 87 is operated when the carriages reach their lower position and the operation of this microswitch initiates the upward folding of the two outer walls 5 and 6 of the body blank. It should be noted that the assembly of 25 tubes has not yet been deposited on the central wall 4 of the body blank, the shelves 86 not yet having been retracted.
  • the mechanism for folding up the side walls 5 and 6 of each body blank may be seen in FIGS. 2B, 5A and 5B and comprises a pair of similar folding elements 114 each formed by a metal bar mounted on a pair of levers 115 pivotally mounted on the main frame F via brackets 116.
  • the folding elements 114 are driven from a motor 117 via a gearbox 118 and a chain drive 119 which drives two shafts 120 and 121 each carrying crank arms 122 and connecting rods 123 connected to the respective folding elements via their mounting levers 115. It will be understood that the arrangement of the drive results in the folding elements 114 both being pivoted upwardly and downwardly together.
  • a microswitch 124 which initiates the feed of a lid blank 2 into the combining station, i.e. actuates the conveyor belts 25 on which the lid blank is resting.
  • the lid blank 2 is fed into the combining station between the shafts 88 mounting the carrier shelf carriages 87 and comes to rest on the top of the assembly of 25 tubes, its movement being stopped partly be cessation of the movement of the belts 25 and partly by an arm 125 (see FIG. A) which, when engaged by the-leading edge of the lid blank, operates a microswitch to start the drive to the folding elements 114 once again.
  • Such elements now complete their movement so as to bring the outer walls 5 and 6 of the body blank into vertical positions and the sequence of operations at the combining station has now been completed.
  • the operation of the microswitch associated with the arm 125 by the leading end of the lid blank 2 also initiates the movement of the conveyor belts 111 which now carry the combination of the tube assembly and its two associated blanks (now referred to as the combination) out of the combining station.
  • the said combination now passes to a connecting flap folding station, generally indicated at 126 in FIGS. 2B, 2C and 8 and folding part of the fifth means mentioned earlier, where mechanism is provided to fold the connecting flaps 7 and 8 .of each body blank 1 down into engagement with the top surface of the lid blank 2.
  • a connecting flap folding station generally indicated at 126 in FIGS. 2B, 2C and 8 and folding part of the fifth means mentioned earlier, where mechanism is provided to fold the connecting flaps 7 and 8 .of each body blank 1 down into engagement with the top surface of the lid blank 2.
  • adhesive applicators 127 see FIGS. 2B and 5A mounted at the entrance to the folding station 126.
  • the mechanism at the connecting flap folding station comprises folding means in the form of two series of rollers 128, one series on each side of the path of travel of the combination, which rollers are arranged to engage the connecting flaps 7 and 8 of the body blank and have their axes inclined at increasing angles to the vertical so as to fold the connecting flaps inwardly as the combination passes through the folding station.
  • the movement of the combination through the folding station 126 is brought about firstly by the conveyor belts 111 which initiate the movement of the combination out of the combining station and also, once the leading end of the combination has passed the folding station 126, by driven compressing means at a compressing station now to be described.
  • the compressing means comprises a pair of conveyor belts 129 mounted on wheels 130 and driven by a belt 131 from the downstream end of the conveyor belts 111 at the combining station.
  • the lower runs of the conveyor belts 129 are pressed down onto the upper surfaces of the connecting flaps 7 and 8 of the body blank by idler rollers 132, and a further series of idler rollers 133 (with their axes vertical) is provided on each side of the path of movement of the combination to engage the upper portions of the side walls 5 and 6 of the combination to define its path of movement through the compression station.
  • each successive combination rides on a roller conveyor whose rollers 134 (FIG. 8) are mounted in a frame 135 which frame is mounted for up and down vertical movement for a purpose now to be described.
  • the roller conveyor frame 135 is mounted on crank arms 136 connected via a chain drive 137 to a gearbox 138 driven by a motor 139.
  • the actuation of the drive to the crank arms 136 to lower the roller conveyor 134 is initiated by the retraction of the carrier shelves 86 to deposit the next succeeding assembly of 25 tubes on a body blank in the combining station 20.
  • Such lowering of the roller conveyor 134 deposits the pack on two further conveyor belts 140 arranged at right angles to the roller conveyor, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, which belts serve to carry the pack through a final folding station illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 9; such final folding station incorporates mechanism constituting the said sixth means" already referred to.
  • the drive to the crank arms 136 is stopped by operation of a microswitch when the roller conveyor frame 135 reaches its lowest position and operation of this switch also initiates the movement of the two conveyor belts 140.
  • the latter belts are driven from a motor 141 (FIG. 9) via a gearbox 142 and a chain drive 143 which also drives three upper belts 144 at the final folding station through which the pack is now moved in a direction at right angles to its previous path of travel.
  • the mechanism at the final folding station is illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 9 and is arranged to fold the end closure panels 11 and 12 and their associated connecting flaps 13 and 14 of the lid blank 2 downwardly and inwardly to close the ends of the pack.
  • the pack is transported through the final folding station on conveyor belts and during its travel is held down on those belts by the upper belts 144 also mentioned above.
  • the folding mechanism at the second folding station consists firstly of a pair of strips 145 arranged one on each side of the path of travel of the pack and curved downwardly at their upstream ends, the purpose of which is to lift the end wall panels 11 and 12 into horizontal positions if they have dropped out of the horizontal during the movement of the combination through the previous parts of the apparatus.
  • the pack has now been fully formed and secured and is delivered onto a horizontal platform 152 formed at the downstream end of the part of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2C.
  • Each of the gearboxes of the illustrated apparatus will have an associated clutch-brake mechanism for starting and stopping the drive transmission.
  • the above described apparatus is, of course, arranged to operate on precut and scored blanks. It will be appreciated, however, that the apparatus could if desired include means for cutting and scoring the blanks to define the various panels therein.
  • a method of packing an article or an assembly of articles including the steps of folding first and second blanks of foldable sheet material about said articles or assembly of articles so that the first blank provides three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank provides the fourth side wall and end closure walls of such case or carton, and further including the step of folding connecting flaps, formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided by said first blank, to overlie the said fourth wall, and securing said flaps to said fourth wall; characterized in that the said article or assembly of articles is first engaged with said first and second blanks at a combining station, the said article or assembly of articles and the said first blank being fed to said combining station from different sides thereof and the said second blank being fed to the said combining station from a third side thereof in a direction at right angles to the respective directions of feed of said article or assembly of articles and said first blank, the combination of said article or assembly of articles and said blanks then being moved away from said combining station in the same direction as
  • Apparatus for automatically and repetitively packing articles or assemblies of articles comprising: means defining a combining station; first means for feeding first blanks of foldable sheet material one by one to said combining station; second means for feeding articles or assemblies of articles to be packed one by one to said combining station for engagement one with each of said blanks at such station; third means for engaging a second blank of foldable sheet material with each successive article or assembly of articles at said combining station; fourth means for folding said first blanks about each successive article or assembly of articles at said combining station so that each said first blank provides three of the four side walls of a tubular case or carton enclosing said article or assembly of articles and the second blank provides the fourth side wall thereof; fifth means displaced from said combining station for folding connecting flaps, formed as extensions of the outer walls of said three walls provided by said first blank, to overlie said fourth wall and for securing said flaps to said fourth wall; and sixth means displaced from said combining station for folding parts of said second blank inwardly to form end closure walls of said case
  • said first means is operative to transfer said first blanks one by one to said combining station from a first blank storage station of the apparatus, said first means including sucker means operative to withdraw successive first blanks from the bottom of a stack at said first blank storage station, and kicker means operative to displace each successive blank so withdrawn into engagement with friction roller means operative to feed the blank to said combining station.
  • said carrier means comprises at least two shelves adapted to support each successive article or assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof, and including means operative to withdraw said shelves from under the article or assembly of articles when the carrier means is in its said lower position of adjustment so as to deposit the article or assembly of articles on its associated first blank.
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 which is adapted for packing assemblies of articles and includes collating means arranged to receive articles fed singly thereto and to collate said articles into successive assemblies for packing, and assembly transfer means for transferring successive assemblies of articles to said second means.
  • said collating means comprises stationary support means adapted to receive successive single articles fed thereto whereby successive subassemblies of articles are built up on said stationary support support means in operation, movable support means comprising a plurality of supports alignable in succession with said stationary support means for the transfer of successive sub-assemblies of articles from said stationary support means to successive ones of said movable supports so as to build up a plurality of sub-assembly layers of articles on said movable support means to constitute an assembly of articles, sub-assembly transfer means operative to transfer each successive sub-assembly of articles assembled on said stationary support means to a movable support aligned therewith, and indexing means operative to index said movable support means through one increment of its movement subsequent to the transfer of each successive sub-assembly of articles to one of the movable supports thereof, the said assembly transfer means being operative to transfer each successive assembly of articles assembled on said movable support means to said second means.
  • said stationary support means comprises two shelves arranged to support each successive article by engagement under spaced edge regions thereof; each of said movable supports comprises two shelves arranged to support a sub-assembly of articles by engagement under spaced edge regions of the articles; said subassembly transfer means comprises pusher means mounted for movement between the shelves of said stationary support means; and said assembly transfer means comprises pusher means movable between the shelves of said movable supports.
  • said third means includes pusher means operative to displace successive second blanks from the bottom of a stack at said second blank storage station on to conveyor means in operation, said conveyor means being intermittently operative to carry each suc-

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US813089A 1968-04-10 1969-04-03 Method of and apparatus for packing articles Expired - Lifetime US3654745A (en)

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GB07372/68A GB1254552A (en) 1968-04-10 1968-04-10 Method of and apparatus for packing articles

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BE (1) BE731192A (xx)
CH (1) CH493367A (xx)
DE (1) DE1918297C3 (xx)
FR (1) FR2005947A1 (xx)
GB (1) GB1254552A (xx)
IE (1) IE32731B1 (xx)
LU (1) LU58402A1 (xx)
NL (1) NL144880B (xx)
NO (1) NO129896B (xx)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3872650A (en) * 1972-08-31 1975-03-25 Stone Container Corp Packaging machine using two blank carton system
EP0429064A1 (en) * 1989-11-20 1991-05-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Package of photographic photosensitive material and packaging apparatus
US20170369194A1 (en) * 2016-06-23 2017-12-28 Corning Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for packaging glass articles
US11939175B2 (en) 2021-11-15 2024-03-26 Corning Incorporated Automated glass article bundling and palletizing apparatuses and methods

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2366993A1 (fr) * 1976-10-06 1978-05-05 Beneteau Rene Procede de mecanisation automatique ou semi-automatique pour l'emballage de produits fragiles et ou non porteurs

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2384494A (en) * 1943-09-06 1945-09-11 Schutter Candy Company Method of packaging
US3500609A (en) * 1963-10-03 1970-03-17 Signet Packaging Enterprises L Means for packaging cuboid containers

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2384494A (en) * 1943-09-06 1945-09-11 Schutter Candy Company Method of packaging
US3500609A (en) * 1963-10-03 1970-03-17 Signet Packaging Enterprises L Means for packaging cuboid containers

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3872650A (en) * 1972-08-31 1975-03-25 Stone Container Corp Packaging machine using two blank carton system
EP0429064A1 (en) * 1989-11-20 1991-05-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Package of photographic photosensitive material and packaging apparatus
US20170369194A1 (en) * 2016-06-23 2017-12-28 Corning Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for packaging glass articles
US11299306B2 (en) * 2016-06-23 2022-04-12 Corning Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for packaging glass articles
US11939175B2 (en) 2021-11-15 2024-03-26 Corning Incorporated Automated glass article bundling and palletizing apparatuses and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1918297B2 (de) 1973-06-20
FR2005947A1 (xx) 1969-12-19
IE32731L (en) 1969-10-10
GB1254552A (en) 1971-11-24
CH493367A (de) 1970-07-15
NL144880B (nl) 1975-02-17
NO129896B (xx) 1974-06-10
DE1918297A1 (de) 1969-10-23
LU58402A1 (xx) 1969-07-18
IE32731B1 (en) 1973-11-14
BE731192A (xx) 1969-10-08
DE1918297C3 (de) 1974-01-03
NL6905488A (xx) 1969-10-14

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